Photo by Arnie Goodman

Born in Galveston, Texas, innovative jazz guitarist Larry Coryell grew up in Washington before moving to New York City in 1965, where he attended the Mannes School of Music.

Coryell became part of Chico Hamilton’s quintet, replacing Gabor Szabo in the latter ’60s, and toured widely with Hamilton and other groups. His music during the late-1960s and early-1970s combined the influences of rock, jazz, and eastern music; he made a years-long foray into acoustic guitar before returning to primarily electric guitar in the late ’70s.

Always testing new waters, Coryell partnered with fusion guitarist John McLaughlin and flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucía, touring Europe as The Guitar Trio. He published his autobiography, Improvising: My Life in Music in 2007.

Coryell is survived by two sons, Julian and guitarist Murali Coryell. He will be missed.